Hop plant named ‘YCR Accession No. 4’

ABSTRACT

A new hop plant ( Humulus lupulus ) is disclosed. The new variety is used for its aromatic properties. The new variety is moderately tolerant to powdery mildew, and produces a medium size moderately compact cone with good pickability and storageability. The cones mature relatively late, and produce an exceptional yield of approximately 2200 to 3000 pounds per acre (2466 to 3363 kg/ha).

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Humulus lupulus.

Variety denomination: ‘YCR Accession No. 4’.

STATEMENT REGARDING FERERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

None.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of hop plant (Humulus lupulus), and more particularly to a new hop plant resulting from the open pollination of ‘Swiss Tettnanger’ (unpatented) as part of a controlled breeding program in 1998. Selection of the new variety and initial reproduction by root cuttings was carried out in a research nursery in Prosser, Wash., U.S.A. Subsequent asexual reproduction took place in Granger, Wash., U.S.A. The new variety has been stably reproduced over successive generations.

Both ‘YCR-4’ and its parent ‘Swiss Tettnanger’ are classified as aroma hops, selected for desirable aroma quality. However, ‘YCR-4’ is distinguished from its parent ‘Swiss Tettnanger’ by several characteristics, as set forth in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Comparison of ‘Swiss Tettnanger’ and ‘YCR-4’ Characteristics ‘Swiss Tettnanger’ ‘YCR-4’ Brewing quality Average alpha acid level 4-6% 6-9% (percent of cone weight) Average beta acid level (percent 3-6% 6-8% of cone weight) Ratio of alpha acid to beta acid 1:1 1:1 Average cohumulone level 20-25% 26-29% (percent of alpha acid) Total oils (ml/100 g) 0.42-1.13    Approx. 1.5 Storage quality Stability (percent loss of alpha 50% 20-30% acids after 6 months storage at room temperature) Agronomics Yield (lbs./acre) 1000-1300    2200-3000    Susceptibility to powdery More susceptible Less susceptible mildew Resistance to downy mildew Moderate Moderate Maturity date (Yakima Valley, Early, 3^(rd) to 4^(th) Late, 2^(nd) week Washington) week of August of September

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

FIG. 1 shows a hop plant of the new variety;

FIG. 2 shows a cone from a hop plant of the new variety;

FIG. 3 shows a cluster of cones on a hop plant of the new variety;

FIG. 4 shows the leaves of the hop plant of the new variety; and

FIG. 5 shows the vine of the hop plant of the new variety.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

The following is a detailed botanical description of the new hop plant, based on observations of specimens grown in Granger, Toppenish, Moxee, and Harrah, Wash. during the 2001 growing season. All colors are described according to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (Royal Horticultural Society, London). It should be understood that the botanical and analytical chemical characteristics described will vary somewhat depending upon cultural practices and climatic conditions and can vary with location and season.

-   Bine:     -   -   Main bine color.—146D yellow green.         -   Stripe color.—183C greyed purple.         -   Stipule direction.—Outward-down, forked.         -   Stipule color.—144B yellow green.         -   Bine diameter.—At base: 0.7 cm; 9 feet from base: 0.8 cm; 18             feet from base: 0.7 cm. -   Leaves:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Shape.—Palmate.         -   Length.—Avg. 14.5 cm (mature leaf).         -   Width.—Avg. 13.0 cm (mature leaf).         -   Color.—Upper surface, mature leaf: 137A green. Lower             surface, mature leaf: 137C green. Upper surface, immature             leaf: 137B green. Lower surface, immature leaf: 137C green.         -   Number of lobes.—3-10.         -   Margin.—Serrated.         -   Serrations per inch.—6-7.         -   Pose.—Downward.         -   Petiole length.—Avg. 6.4 cm (mature).         -   Petiole color at base.—Varied, 183C greyed purple and 143A             green.         -   Venation.—Reticulate.         -   Vein color.—145A yellow green.         -   Leaf resin gland color.—13C, 14C and 15D yellow. -   Cones:     -   -   Length.—Avg. 3.02 cm.         -   Diameter.—Avg. 1.63 cm.         -   Bract tip color.—146B yellow green.         -   Bract base color.—145B yellow green.         -   Bracteole color.—145B yellow green.         -   Cone shape.—Ovoid.         -   Bract shape.—Ovate.         -   Bract tip shape.—Cuspidate.         -   Bract tip position.—Recurved.         -   Bracteole shape.—Narrowly rounded.         -   Lupulin gland color.—17A, 17B, 15A and 15B yellow. -   Quality data:     -   -   Alpha acids (% of cone weight).—5.46-9.29 mean=7.44, n=10.         -   Beta acids (% of cone weight).—5.78-7.79 mean=7.14, n=10.         -   Cohumulone (% of alpha acids).—24.88-29.09 mean=26.95, n=8.         -   Total oils.—1.5 ml/100 g cones.         -   Storageability.—70.25%-78.03% alpha remaining about 6 months             storage at room temperature.         -   Oil analytical data.—Table 2.

TABLE 2 Essential Oil Profile of YCR4 106 mg of 10% Adsorbate/150 C/5 Min./1.0 ug Int. Std. By DTD-GC-MS (Peak Area Integration from DTD-GC-FID Analysis) MS GC-FID Spec # Peak Assignment Peak Area Area % 92 isoprene 3154.714 1.493 198 2-methyl-3-buten-1-ol 1457.541 0.690 296 d-8 toluene (internal standard) 328 3-methyl-2-butenal 941.346 0.446 334 n-octane 798.296 0.378 339 acetic acid 1883.299 0.891 370 isobutyric acid (2-methylpropanoic 244.107 0.116 acid) 398 possibly pentyl alcohol 104.691 0.050 405 3-methylbutyric acid 301.569 0.143 412 2-methylbutyric acid 269.756 0.128 414 2-methyl-2-butanol acetate + 2,6- 299.401 0.142 dimethyl-2,4-heptadiene 422 butyl-2-methylpropanoate (butyl 266.414 0.126 isobutyrate) 433 alpha-pinene 126.371 0.060 448 possibly formamide 1261.861 0.597 464 beta-pinene + 2-methylbutyl 821.842 0.389 propanoate 468 methyl, 5-methylhexanoate 97.371 0.046 476 myrcene 20782.279 9.837 484 hexanoic acid 368.963 0.175 490 3-methylbutylisobutyrate 1176.898 0.557 493 2-methylbutylisobutyrate 1034.212 0.490 501 alpha-phellandrena 346.454 0.164 508 alpha-terpinene 507.470 0.240 515 cis-ocimene 354.921 0.168 523 methylheptanoate 413.171 0.196 533 heptyl acetate 283.440 0.134 542 methyl, 6-methylheptanoate 748.568 0.354 547 heptanoic acid 834.398 0.395 554 linalool + pentyl-3-methylbutyrate 2160.128 1.022 570 methyl octanoate 683.501 0.324 582 methyl, 4-methyl-2-oxopentanoate 451.766 0.214 591 2,3-dihydro-3,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl- 684.438 0.324 4(H)-pyran-4-one 604 2-nonanol 339.230 0.161 617 d-8 naphthalene (internal standard) 623 methyl nonanoate (branched isomer) 2986.862 1.414 627 methyl-4-octenoic acid 870.192 0.412 635 2-decanol 944.855 0.447 643 methyl-6-nonenoate 931.681 0.441 655 methyl nonanoate 1465.176 0.693 661 nerol 444.129 0.210 675 2-methylheptyl propionate 881.313 0.417 681 unknown 230.901 0.109 686 geraniol + 2-undecanone (branched 1253.790 0.593 isomer) 696 2-undecanol (branched isomer) 338.728 0.160 705 undecadienol isomer 326.548 0.155 712 undecenol isomer 721.289 0.341 717 methyl decanoate (branched isomer) 1098.103 0.520 722 2-undecanone 848.863 0.402 733 2-undecanol 1262.099 0.597 740 methyl-4-decenoate 12898.897 6.105 742 methyl-4,8-decadienoate 579.773 0.274 755 methyl geranate + methyl decanoate 2548.231 1.206 766 unknown 204.564 0.097 777 octyl-2-methylpropanoate 756.305 0.358 784 alpha-cubebene 420.880 0.199 791 2-tridecanone (branched isomer) 566.371 0.268 799 2-tridecanone (branched isomer) 258.748 0.122 806 methyl-2-undecenoate 1041.976 0.493 808 alpha-ylangene 503.279 0.238 813 alpha-copaene 1203.824 0.570 826 methyl undecanoate 899.178 0.426 833 2-tridecanone 507.088 0.240 843 ? sesquiterpene 206 m.w. 163 base peak 131.612 0.062 854 methyl ester of unsaturated fatty acid 136.607 0.065 867 caryophyllene 36181.296 17.125 874 beta-cubebene 2076.303 0.983 880 linalylisobutyrate 304.175 0.144 891 3-methylbutyloctanoate 143.006 0.068 906 humulene 43184.507 20.440 913 germacrene D 407.641 0.193 928 gamma-cadinene 4751.493 2.249 940 beta-selinene 4255.554 2.014 950 alpha-selinene 6501.117 3.077 955 alpha-amorphene 531.661 0.252 964 methyl, 3,6-dodecadienoate 544.689 0.258 972 gamma-muuroline 344.080 0.163 984 delta-cadinene 5902.935 2.794 993 sesquiterpene w/ no common name 617.786 0.292 CAS#16728-99-7, cadinene-type 999 alpha-muurolene 696.655 0.330 1005 alpha-calacorene 123.304 0.058 1025 2-tetradecanone 460.135 0.218 1030 tetradecadienol isomer 576.686 0.273 1037 tetradecenol isomer 993.396 0.470 1051 caryophyllene oxide 1378.781 0.653 1070 methyl tridecenoate 901.896 0.427 1076 linalyl-3-methylbutyrate 556.047 0.263 1082 humulene oxide 1253.453 0.593 1090 unk. sesquiterpenol w/ 179 peak 478.628 0.227 1105 cadinol 511.249 0.242 1110 unk. sesquiterpenol w/ 179 peak 563.546 0.267 1121 delta-cadinol 1236.734 0.585 1127 beta-cadinol 418.047 0.198 1136 globulol 1354.295 0.641 1144 pentadecadienol 3621.791 1.714 1155 pentadecenol 1431.673 0.678 1166 unknown sequiterpenol 496.377 0.235 1188 2-pentadecanone 446.201 0.211 1216 possibly a linalool or geraniol ester 465.789 0.220 1228 pentadecadienyl acetate 388.543 0.184 1239 pentadecenyl acetate 843.677 0.399 1252 possibly famesol 1016.391 0.481 1271 myristic acid 994.397 0.471 1361 possibly famesyl acetate 488.532 0.231 1371 2,4-heptadecadione 158.692 0.075 1378 hexadecadienol 588.667 0.279 1416 unknown 176.575 0.084 1470 3,7,11,15-tetramethylhexadecapentaene 1016.312 0.481 isomer (272 m.w.) 1491 palmitic acid 1433.655 0.679 Total 211276.645 100.000

-   Aroma profile: Mild, with citrus, spicy, floral, and piney notes. -   Use: Used primarily in brewing for its aromatic properties. -   Disease resistance:     -   -   Powdery mildew.—Moderate to high resistance.         -   Downy mildew.—Unknown; no infection observed to date.         -   Verticillium wilt.—Unknown. -   Pickability: Good. -   Harvest maturity: Late; after September 10. -   Yield: 2200-3000 lb/ac (2466-3363 kg/ha) estimate. 

1. A new variety of hop plant substantially as herein shown and described. 